Folding partition



July 1s, 1957 R. ENSIGN I 3,331,425

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Filed Feb. 19, 1965 Juy 18, w67 R. H. ENSIGN FOLDING PARTITION FiledFeb. 19, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I 110e?? Zar United States Patent O3,331,426 FOLDING PARTITION Robert H. Ensign, Bronxville, N.Y., assignerto Hough Manufacturing Corporation, a corporation of Connecticut FiledFeb. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 433,866 4 Claims. (Cl. 160-199) ABSTRACT OF T HEDISCLOSURE This invention relates to a folding partition arrangement foruse as a room divider in which the partition is made up of a row ofconsecutively arranged pairs of panels in which the panels of each pairare disposed on each side of vertically aligned ceiling mounted sweeperand oor mounted threshhold elements in which the panels are connected toa special lazytong linkage arrangement that moves the panels from aclosely nested stacked relation in the contracted position of thepartition in which the panels are at angles to the room anchor end sidethat diverge in the direction of the anchor side, to the extendedposition in which the panels on either side of the sweeper andthreshhold are in substantial coplanar relation. The panels are arrangedto provide effective seals about their top, bottom and side edges thatclose only in the full extended position of the partitions so that airis not entrapped within the partition even through a full seal isprovided about the perimeter of each partition panel for maximumacoustic properties.

The problem of temporary division of a large room into two smaller roomsby means of a movable or folding wall has been presented for many years,particularly in schools, churches, restaurants and the like where theavailable space is to be put to different uses at different times.Because of the importance of this problem in enabling efficientutilization of available space to be made, there have been manydifferent structures proposed and used for this purpose. One commonapproach to the problem has been to provide a series of more or lessconventional doors hinged tgether at their edges in a foldable relationand supported and guided at alternate hinged points, or at the lateralmidpoints of such doors, and the supporting and guiding means has beenlocated in some instances at the top of the assembly or in otherinstances at both the top and bottom.

Such foldably related doors have, of course, accomplished the desiredphysical division of the room space, but the bulk and weight of sucharrangements has been objectionable, and also, it is found that such anarrangement usually lacks the ability to attain the desired degree ofacoustic isolation of the two rooms formed thereby.

More recent efforts directed to this same general result have involvedthe use of accordion type folding doors having continuous foldable orbendable covers on both sides of an extensible inner supportingstructure suspended from and movable along the overhead supportingtrack. In the original use of more or less conventional accordionfolding doors of the aforesaid character, no appreciable acousticisolation was attained between the two rooms, but in practice theacoustic properties have been improved in 3,331,426 Patented July 18,1967 various ways as by addition of mass to the doors and -by providinga sealing means to the four sides of the doors so as to prevent directpassage of soun-d about these edges.

In attaining the desired top and bottom seal on such accordion foldingdoors, flexible sweep strips have been provided at the upper and loweredges of one or both of the foldable covers and these sweep stripsnecessarily ride in a firm frictional contact with the opposed floor andceiling surfaces. As a result, the weight of the accordion folding doorsand the frictional resistance of the sweep strips has rendered the doorsrelatively diicult to operate between open and closed positions, andother problems have been introduced by the entrapment of air within thespace Ibetween the opposed covers. Such accordion folding doors have insome instances been considered to be objectionable in appearance becauseof the different type of surface that is provided by the covers andbecause the covers do not lend themselves to decorative treatment in theoriginal manufacture thereof nor in any redecoration operations. Furtherobjection has been raised as to such accordion folding doors for thispurpose based on a low tire retardant rating and upon the Vfact thatthey require factory assembly of the entire unit so that this entireunit forms a bulky and heavy single assembly that must be handled duringthe installation.

VIn View of the foregoing, it is the primary object of the presentinvention to provide an improved movable partition adapted fortemporarily ydividing a large room into two smaller rooms. A relatedobject is to provide such a structure for this purpose which may bereadily and easily operated by one person even though the partitions maybe quite large in size.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a new andimproved foldable partition wherein favorable ratings are attained as toboth fire retardant and acoustic properties, and an object related tothe foregoing is to enable such favorable ratings to be attained bysimple and economical means.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide animproved movable partition which in its closed position has its oppositefaces defined as fiat parallel surfaces approximating -the form,appearance and sturdiness of conventional fixed walls, and objectsrelated to the foregoing are to provide such fiat wall surfaces throughthe use of materials that are adaptable for factory finishing bylamination or otherwise, or for conventional on-,the-job finishing orredecoration as required, and to provide such flat wall surfaces in theform of a plurality of Vsubstantially rigid panels that are etlectuallysealed with respect to each other and with respect to adjacent fixedwalls as an incident to movement of the folding Wall to its closedrelation.

Further and related objects of the invention are to provide such afoldable partition that is adapted for embodiment in extremely largesizes, is constructed in a large measure from standard materials and bythe use of conventional processes and machines, and which, in manyrespects, may be assembled and repaired in the field.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent`from the following Idescription and claims, and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which show structure embodying preferred featuresof the present invention and the principles thereof, and what is nowconsidered to be the best mode in which to apply these principles.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, andin which like numerals are employed to designate like parts thr-oughoutthe same,

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a room equipped with afolding partition constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken as indicated on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1illustrating the door in extended positions with Y mid-width portionsthereof broken out;

FIG. 3 is a developed sectional view taken as indicated on the line 3-3of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional View corresponding to that of FIG. 3 andhaving mid-height portions broken out;V

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional View taken through the door toillustrate the lazytongs;

FIG. 6 is a view of the lazytongs and mounted panels when the door isslightly openY and illustrates the initial separating movement betweenadjacent door edges;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a main link ofthe lazytongs;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a leading edge link of the lazytongs;

FIG. 9 is a lazytongs;

FIG. l0 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken as indicated on the line10-10 of FIG. 5;

' FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view correspondingsomewhat to that of FIG. 4 and illustrating further details of amodified door panel structure for providing sound insulation properties;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the sealingrelationship between adjacent edges of the door panels; and

FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 are corresponding Views illustrating alternativeedge configurations and seal arrangements for the door panels. Y Y

For purposes of disclosure the invention is herein illustrated asembodied in a foldable partition or wall-2() installed -in a large room21 in such a relation that the foldable wall may be `extendedtransversely across the room 21 to divide theA same temporarily into twosmaller rooms 21A and 21B. As will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds, the foldable wallV 20 of this invention is so constructed andarranged that it may -be readily and easily operated between open andclosed position, occupies a minimum space when open, and when closedprovides favorable acoustic and lire retardant properties and is definedby at exposed surfaces well suited to decorative treatment inmanufacture or after installation. When the foldable wall 20 is in itsopen position, it assumes a folded or collapsed relation adjacent onewall of the room V21, as shown in broken lines in FIGJS.

As will be evident in FIGS. 1 to 6, the folda-ble wall 20 comprises aplurality of elongated rigid panels'ZSA and V25B which, in the closedposition of wall 20, are arranged in.V an edge-sealed relationship toeach other, in two spaced vertical planes on opposite sides of andcarried byan internal'supporting and operating mechanism so that theseveral panels 25A and 25B are swung in unison between the Vfull andbroken line positions of FIG. 5 as the foldable wall 20 is opened andclosed. When the wall 20 is in its extended relation, the top and bottomedges are effectually sealed'along opposite edges of a ceiling mountedsweeper S and a floor mounted threshold T, while the leading andtrailing edges are sealed along stationary structures on the verticalwalls of the room.

The internal supporting and operating structure 30 is plan view of ananchor end link of the collapsible in character, as will be described,and is, in

turn, supported by a plurality of vertical rods 31. The rods 31 may besupported at either the top or bottom ends thereof, and such support isprovided by individual roller carriages 32 'or 132 adjustably secured tothe ends of the rods 31 andrunning in weight supporting track means suchas an overhead track 33, or in a guide track 133 formed in the floormounted threshold T, as shown in l-- FIG. 16. Each rod 31 may besupported on either it upper carriage 32 or its lower carriage 132, sothat alternate support systems are provided in the disclosed embodiment.Where a suspended mounting is used, the lower carriages 132 may beeliminated. The rods 31 form part of the collapsible internal structure30, and these rods 31 have a plurality of sets of horizontallyextensible lazytongs 35 (FIG. 2) mounted thereon in spaced horizontalplanes so that the rods 31 serve as center pivots in the severallazytongs 35. VIn the present instance three sets of lazytongs 35 areemployed so that each such lazytong may be connected to each panel 25Aand 25B as will be described.

The several lazytongs 35 are of identical-construction and eachcomprises a plurality of identical main links 36 (FIGS. 5, 6, and 7), apair of leading edge end links 37 (FIGS. 5 and 8), and a pair of Yanchorend links 38 (FIGS. 5, 6 and 8).V The several links as shownY in FIGS. 7to 9 are essentially of a gentlyV curving sinuous form.

Each main link 36 has a horizontal mounting arm 136 extending as atangent at one end thereof for iiush securement along the inner face ofthe corresponding panel. Each main link 36 has three equally spacedholes 36A,

36B and 36C therein, as shown in FIG. 7. vThe center toV center spacingof adjacent holes establishes a standardized link section with thedimension between the bearing openings 36A and 36C delining the overalleffective length of the link 36. The leading edge end links 37 (FIG. V8)

also have a similar mounting arm 137 provided in identical relation atone end thereof. The links 37 have holes 37A and 37B correspondinglyspaced in'standardized re, Y

lation to constitute a link section corresponding identically with thepanel engaging half of link 36.

The main links'36 are pivoted together in pairs by the respective rods31 which extend through the center bearing openings 36B of therespective pairs of links 36 that are to be connected thereby. It shouldbe noted that the Y links 36 of each pair are disposed in a reversedrelationship such that the arms 136 thereof may project in the samehorizontal direction and in a symmetrical relation as shown in FIG. 5.Similarly, the leading edge end links 37 are pivoted together-in pairson a common rod 31 that e extends'through the holes 37B. Finally, theanchor end links 38 are pivoted together in pairs on a common rod 39which extends through a plurality of supporting brackets 39B that arefixed to the right hand side wall. Snap ring assemblies 40 on the rods31 and 39 above and below the various links 36, 37, and 38 serve to holdthe links at the desired level on the rods 31. The links of adjacentpairs are interconnected by pivotrpins 41 extended through alignedbearing openings 36A and 36C so that corresponding portions of thevarious links are maintained in parallel relation at all positions ofthe collapsible structure 3l);

In the mounting of several'roller carriages 32 are suspended from theoverhead track 33, and Vthe right hand end of the structure as viewed inFIGS. V5 and 6 is anchored Vto the adjacent side wall. Thus, the righthand end of the foldable wall 20 is anchored and the left hand endthereof is movable along the path defined by the overheadV track 33,between the open position shown in Vbroken lines in FIG. 5 and theclosed-position shown in full lines in FIG. 5. In such movement theseveral panels 25A Land panels to each other and to adjacent surfaces onthe side walls, ceiling and door is such that an elective seal may Y beestablished about the top, bottom and ends of ,bothV panel groups of themovable wall as 4well as between the adjacent edges of the panels.

the movable partition 20, the

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 of the drawings, the adjacent vertical edges ofthe several panels 25A and 25B, while of irregularly steppedconfiguration are generally arranged at substantially a 45 angle withrespect to the vertical plane of the door panels, and in practicecompressible sealing means are provided between these edges as will bedescribed in detail hereinafter.

The effectual separation of the adjacent edges of the panels is attainedprimarily by providing predominantly lateral initial separatingmovements of these edges, and this enables compressible sealing materialto be mounted on certain adjacent edges of the panel to produce thedesired seal along these edges when the wall is in its closed relation,as will be described in some detail hereinafter.

The vertical edges of the panels 25A and 25B at the right hand end ofthe wall are arranged to cooperate with stationary wall elements 42mounted on the brackets 39B, andthese wall elements 42 have their edgesformed the same as the leading edges of the panels so that they maycooperate with the trailing edges of the adjacent panels 25A and 25B inthe manner above described.

The desired seal at the upper end lower ends of the panels is alsoattained by reason of the above described pivotal or swinging movementof the several panels. Thus, as shown particularly in FIG. 11, dependingstrips S are secured to the ceiling 21C on opposite sides of theguideway 33 so as to provide vertical edge surfaces adjacent to theplane in which the inner surfaces `of the panels 25A and 25B are to bepositioned, and the inner surfaces of the panels 25A and 25B haveresilient strips 44 of foam rubber or the like secured thereto so thatwhen the partition is in its closed relationship, the strips 44 Will becompressed against the vertical edges of the members S. The relationshipof the individual strips 44 `on the several panels is such that whenthey are compressed there will be a continuous seal between the severalpanels 25A and 25B and throughout the entire length of the members S.

A similar sealing relationship is attained at the lower edge of the wallby cooperation with the minimum height threshold T to be engaged alongits opposed edges by compressible strips 46 secured to the innersurfaces of the respective panels 2SA and 25B.

In the preferred practice of the invention, the leading edge of the dooris open faced and the left hand sound wall as viewed in FIGS. l, 2, and5 is equipped with hingedly mounted panels 125A and 125B having railingedge configurations matched to the leading edge configurations providedon the regular lead panels 25A and 25B of the door. The wall mountedpanels 125A and 125B are shown carried on wall mounted hinges 125H andthey are illustrated in their in use position wherein they flank a wallmounted keeper element 125K, located at a mid height region of the wall.The common connecting rod 31 that joins the leading edge end links 37 isequipped with a latch 47 swingable to engage the keeper 125K under thecontrol of an end knob 47K, represented in phantom lines in FIG. 5. Eachof the wall mounted hinge panels 125A and 125B is provided with apivotal mounted latch 130 directly operated by means of an externalhandle 130H to move into locking relation behind the leading edges ofthe corresponding door panels 25A and B after the door has been fullyclosed and the latch 47 engaged in its keeper 125K. This completes theseal around the door edges.

It should be apparent that the treatment at the leading edge of the doormay be varied in that the side wall may be provided with a recess toreceive the projecting extremities of the lazytongs, in which eventseparate panels such as 125A and 125B may be eliminated. Other door edgetreatments will occur to those skilled in the art and where desired, thelead panels of the door may, themselves, be elongated to project beyondthe lazytongs.

6 This would obviate the need for the wall mounted panels A and 125B.

It has been pointed out that the panels 25A and 25B as herein shown haveirregularly stepped generally angular leading and trailing edges, and inFIG. 13 a seal strip 43 is shown mounted on the trailing edge foreffecting a seal. In FIG. 13 a sealing arrangement for plane anglededges has been showin Thus a compressible foam rubber -strip 48 is shownin position between the panel edges, this sealing strip 48 preferablybeing attached to the leading edge of the panel as indicated at 48L sothat the strip will be compressed during the closure of the foldablewall in the manner above described.

Other edge forms may be used on the panels 25A and 25B, and twoadditional edge forms are shown respectively in FIGS. 14 and 15. In FIG.14 a hip-lap form is shown and the tongue 49 `of the leading edge ofeach panel is arranged to be disposed at the outer side of the wall. Thetongue 49 has a vertical strip 50 of compressible material such as foamrubber fixed thereto so that it may be compressed against the outwardlyfacing surfaces of the related tongue 149 that is formed on the trailingedge `of the adjacent panel.

In FIG. l5 the adjacent edges of the panels have a somewhat complex formso that near the outer faces thereof the two adjacent surfaces of thefaces are parallel and are perpendicular to the plane of the door.Inwardly of these surfaces the trailing edge has angularly facingsurface 249 that is in parallel relationship to an angular face 349 onthe leading edge, and a compressible strip 150 is fixed to the surface349 so that it will be compressed when the foldable wall is closed inthe general manner hereinabove described.

The sealing of the panels with respect to each other and with respect tothe door, ceiling and side walls of the room is unusually effective, andthis in itself results in the attainment of a relatively high acousticrating. Over and above the acoustic qualities imparted to the door bythe perfection of its seal, the thickness and weight and rigidity of thepanels 25A and 25B contributes also to the attainment of desirableacoustic properties. The panel 25A may be made of plywood, chip board orother standard building products, and hence the panels may be given thedesired decorative finish either at the plant or after installation. Incertain uses, as for example in schools, it is desirable that an actualfinish be provided that is adapted to be painted in the course of schoolconstruction or in the redecoration thereof. In other instances, thesurface of the panel may be attained by other conventional means.Panels, of course, may be formed as a laminated construction includingone or more layers of sheet metal rolled to the desired configurationand carrying such insulating or stiffening means as will be desired.

The door panels illustrated in detail in FIGS. 2 to l0 are of hollowcore construction and may be increased in acoustic rating by filling thesame with a foamed in place plastic. The door panels illustrated in FIG.11 are of solid type, and higher acoustic rating in this instance isaccomplished by providing the inner surfaces of all or part of eachpanel with an acoustic layer of a material such as fiber glass as isindicated at 60 in FIG. 1l, such acoustic material 60 being secured tothe respective panels by adhesive or other suitable means to achievebroad surfaced ush faced contact.

It has been pointed out hereinbefore that the desirability of aparticular foldable wall construction is determined in part by the reretardant rating or class thereof, and the panels 25A and 25B, beingmade from conventional building materials, may be chosen to attain thedesired fire retardant rating.

The fact that the panels 25A and 25B are made from conventional buildingmaterials that are available locally in most situations enables theseparts to be replaced in the field and t-o facilitate this, the severalpanels 25A jacent edges of the panels and between the top and bottornedges of the panels and the ceiling mounted strips S and the floormounted threshold T. There is a potential leakage path, however, at thevertical extremities of the joints between adjacent panels, and apotential air iiow path of this type is illustrated by dotted arrows 160in each of FIGS. 4 and 11. These paths are present in the edge to edge'spaces at both the top and bottom of each panel joint region asindicated at L in FIGS. 12 to 15. Leakage paths of this type areminimized by effecting the panel to panel joint seal along a line closeto the inner panel surfaces, so that the arrangements of FIGS. 12 andare most effective in this regard, and the arrangement of FIG. 14 allowsmore leakage than any of the other arrangements.

In summary, some of the principal features of the folding partition asdisclosed herein are that it exhibits a high stacking ratio, itaccomplishes an effective air seal when in closed position to enhanceits acoustic properties, it accommodates all necessary air ow duringopening or closing movement by virtue of the quick sealing action thatis effected at the very end of the closure movement and at the verybeginning of the opening movement so as to prevent sluggish operation,and it achieves effective sealing without dependence or need t-otolerate sliding friction as between the sealed parts.

Thus, while preferred constructional features of the invention areembodied in the structure illustrated herein, it is to be understoodthat changes and variations may be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A folding partition adapted to be connected to one side wall of aroom and be extended to an opposing side wall of the room between aceiling mounted sweeper and a door mounted threshold vertically alignedwith the sweeper, said partition comprising:

a plurality of planar rigid panels arranged in a row of consecutivelyarranged opposed pairs in which the panels yof each pair are disposed oneach side of the ceiling mounted sweeper and the floor mounted thresholdand are adapted to move from a position adjacent the one side of theroom toward the opposing side of the room when said partition isextended therebetween,

the panels of the respective pairs of panels having trailing verticaledge portions that overlap the leading vertical edge portions of thenext adjacent trailing panels whereby adjacent panels on each side ofsaid threshold and sweeper have cooperating sealing vertical edgeportions with the trailing edge portions facing the room one side wall,

means for connecting the pair of panels of said partition that are injuxtaposition to the one side wall to form a partition anchor end pairof panels,

seal strip means carried by one of the edge portions of said cooperatingsealing edge portions and extending substantially the height of saidedge portions,

said cooperating edge portions closing on said seal strip means in theextended position of said partition,

seal strip means carried by each panel on the surfaces of the upper andlower edges of said panels that face the sweeper and threshold,respectively, and positioned to engage same when said partition is movedto its extended position,

with adjacent of said pairs. of panels being connectedV together byseveral vertically spaced pairs of lazytong forming members to form apartition structure, said pairs of lazytong forming members eachcomprising crossed horizontally disposed lever members rectionintermediate the ends of said mounting arms f thereof,

said lazytong mounting arms in the extended position of said partitionVbeing in parallel coplanar relation on each side of said partition,

said crossing portions of said pairs of lever members being respectivelypivotally connected together by vertical rod members, and being angledto dispose said panels on each side of said partition in the contractedposition thereof in juxtaposed positions in which their planes divergein the direction of the one wall side,

means for supportingV said rod members for movement Y longitudinally ofsaid sweeper and said threshold, n with the leading pair of said pairsof panels including vertically spaced pairs of leading end links, saidleading end links each comprising a trailing elongate mounting arm thatis parallel to and is affixed to the inside surface of one panel of theleading pair of panels, and leading end portions that areY pivotedtogether by a vertical rod member,

with the leading ends of the leading pairs of said lazytong formingmembers being respectively pivoted to said elongate mounting arms ofsaid leading end links intermediate the ends thereof,

with the anchor end pair of panels including vertically spaced pairs ofanchor end links,

said anchor end links each comprising an arrngmember having one endpivoted to the mounting arms of the next adjacent of said lazytongforming members intermediate the'ends thereof, with the other ends ofsaid anchor end links being pivoted together by a vertical rod member,

means for securing the last mentioned vertical rod member to the sidewall,

and means for releas'ably securing the leading end `pair t of panels tothe opposing side wall in the extended position of said partition, saidlazytong lever members, said leading end links,

and said anchor end links being proportioned 'toY 2. The foldingpartition set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said trailing and said leading vertical edge portions make angles on theorder of 45 degrees with respect to the respective panels.

3. The folding partition set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said trailing and leading vertical edge portionsinclude tongue portionsthat overlap when said partition is in its extended position and providesaid cooperating ceiling vertical edge portions.

4. The folding partition set forth in claim 1 including:

panel means interposed between said anchor end panels and the one sidewall, and between the position that said leading end panels will assumein the extended position of said partitionandthe opposing wall,

said panel means including vertical edge portions positioned tosealingly cooperate with corresponding References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 9/ 1932 Nordell 160-84 1/1936 Maurer 160-199 10 2,254,583 9/1941Stuart 16C-159 2,512,736 6/1950 Brenner et a1. 160-84 3,235,915 2/1966Glaser 160-40 X DAVID I. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Examiner.

D. L. TAYLOR, Assistant Examiner.

1. A FOLDING PARTITION ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO ONE SIDE WALL OF AROOM AND BE EXTENDED TO AN OPPOSING SIDE WALL OF THE ROOM BETWEEN ACEILING MOUNTED SWEEPER AND A FLOOR MOUNTED THRESHOLD VERTICALLY ALIGNEDWITH THE SWEEPER, SAID PARTITION COMPRISING: A PLURALITY OF PLANAR RIGIDPANELS ARRANGED IN A ROW OF CONSECUTIVELY ARRANGED OPPOSED PAIRS INWHICH THE PANELS OF EACH PAIR ARE DISPOSED ON EACH SIDE OF THE CEILINGMOUNTED SWEEPER AND THE FLOOR MOUNTED THRESHOLD AND ARE ADAPTED TO MOVEFROM A POSITION ADJACENT THE ONE SIDE OF THE ROOM TOWARD THE OPPOSINGSIDE OF THE ROOM WHEN SAID PARTITION IS EXTENDED THEREBETWEEN, THEPANELS OF THE RESPECTIVE PAIRS OF PANELS HAVING TRAILING VERTICAL EDGEPORTIONS THAT OVERLAP THE LEADING VERTICAL EDGE PORTIONS OF THE NEXTADJACENT TRAILING PANELS WHEREBY ADJACENT PANELS ON EACH SIDE OF SAIDTHRESHOLD AND SWEEPER HAVE COOPERATING SEALING VERTICAL EDGE PORTIONSWITH THE TRAILING EDGE PORTIONS FACING THE ROOM ONE SIDE WALL, MEANS FORCONNECTING THE PAIR OF PANELS OF SAID PARTITION THAT ARE INJUXTAPOSITION TO THE ONE SIDE WALL TO FORM A PARTITION ANCHOR END PAIROF PANELS, SEAL STRIP MEANS CARRIED BY ONE OF THE EDGE PORTIONS OF SAIDCOOPERATING SEALING EDGE PORTIONS AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THE HEIGHTOF SAID EDGE PORTIONS, SAID COOPERATING EDGE PORTIONS CLOSING ON SAIDSEAL STRIP MEANS IN THE EXTENDED POSITION OF SAID PARTITION, SEAL STRIPMEANS CARRIED BY EACH PANEL ON THE SURFACES OF THE UPPER AND LOWER EDGESOF SAID PANELS THAT FACE THE SWEEPER AND THRESHOLD, RESPECTIVELY, ANDPOSITIONED TO ENGAGE SAME WHEN SAID PARTITION IS MOVED TO ITS EXTENDEDPOSITION, WITH ADJACENT OF SAID PAIRS OF PANELS BEING CONNECTED TOGETHERBY SEVERAL VERTICALLY SPACED PAIRS OF LAZYTONG FORMING MEMBERS TO FORM APARTITION STRUCTURE, SAID PAIRS OF LAZYTONG FORMING MEMBERS EACHCOMPRISING CROSSED HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED LEVER MEMBERS EACH INCLUDING ATRAILING ELONGATE MOUNTING ARM THAT IS SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO AND ISFIXED TO THE INSIDE SURFACES OF THE PANELS OF THE RESPECTIVE PANELPAIRS, CROSSING PORTIONS EXTENDING FROM THE LEADING ENDS OF SAIDMOUNTING ARMS TOWARDS THE NEXT ADJACENT PAIR OF PANELS IN THE LEADINGDIRECTION, AND LEADING END PORTIONS PIVOTED TO SAID ELONGATE MOUNTINGARMS OF THE NEXT ADJACENT PAIR OF PANELS IN SAID LEADING DIRECTIONINTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF SAID MOUNTING ARMS THEREOF, SAID LAZYTONGMOUNTING ARMS IN THE EXTENDED POSITION OF SAID PARTITION BEING INPARALLEL COPLANAR RELATION ON EACH SIDE OF SAID PARTITION, SAID CROSSINGPORTIONS OF SAID PAIRS OF LEVER MEMBERS BEING RESPECTIVELY PIVOTALLYCONNECTED TOGETHER BY VERTICAL ROD MEMBERS, AND BEING ANGLED TO DISPOSESAID PANELS ON EACH SIDE OF SAID PARTITION IN THE CONTRACTED POSITIONTHEREOF IN JUXTAPOSED POSITIONS IN WHICH THEIR PLANES DIVERGE IN THEDIRECTION OF THE ONE WALL SIDE, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID ROD MEMBERSFOR MOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID SWEEPER AND SAID THRESHOLD, WITH THELEADING PAIR OF SAID PAIRS OF PANELS INCLUDING VERTICALLY SPACED PAIRSOF LEADING END LINKS, SAID LEADING END LINKS EACH COMPRISING A TRAILINGELONGATE MOUNTING ARM THAT IS PARALLEL TO AND IS AFFIXED TO THE INSIDESURFACE OF ONE PANEL OF THE LEADING PAIR OF PANELS, AND LEADING ENDPORTIONS THAT ARE PIVOTED TOGETHER BY A VERTICAL ROD MEMBER, WITH THELEADING ENDS OF THE LEADING PAIRS OF SAID LAZYTONG FORMING MEMBERS BEINGRESPECTIVELY PIVOTED TO SAID ELONGATE MOUNTING ARMS OF SAID LEADING ENDLINKS INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF, WITH THE ANCHOR END PAIR OF PANELSINCLUDING VERTICALLY SPACED PAIRS OF ANCHOR END LINKS, SAID ANCHOR ENDLINKS EACH COMPRISING AN ARM MEMBER HAVING ONE END PIVOTED TO THEMOUNTING ARMS OF THE NEXT ADJACENT TO SAID LAZYTONG FORMING MEMBERSINTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF, WITH THE OTHER ENDS OF SAID ANCHOR ENDLINKS BEING PIVOTED TOGETHER BY A VERTICAL ROD MEMBER, MEANS FORSECURING THE LAST MENTIONED VERTICAL ROD MEMBER TO THE SIDE WALL, ANDMEANS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING THE LEADING END PAIR OF PANELS TO THEOPPOSING SIDE WALL IN THE EXTENDED POSITION OF SAID PARTITION, SAIDLAZYTONG LEVER MEMBERS, SAID LEADING END LINKS, AND SAID ANCHOR ENDLINKS BEING PROPORTIONED TO DISPOSE SAID PANELS IN THE RETRACTEDPOSITION OF SAID PARTITION ADJACENT THE ONE SIDE WALL IN CLOSELY SPACEDSTACKED RELATION, AND TO DISPOSE SAID PANELS IN THE EXTENDED POSITION OFSAID PARTITION IN SUBSTANTIAL PARALLELISM WITH THE PANELS ON EACH SIDETHEREOF BEING IN SUBSTANTIAL COPLANAR RELATION AND SAID SEAL STRIP MEANSBEING COMPRESSED BY SAID PANELS ALONG SAID VERTICAL EDGE PORTIONS ANDSAID UPPER AND LOWER EDGES THEREOF, SAID COOPERATING EDGE PORTIONS LYINGWITHIN THE PLANES OF THE RESPECTIVE PANELS IN SAID EXTENDED POSITION.